Fox PAC lays low

Media giant News Corp., saddled by a phone hacking scandal that’s rocked every level of its company, did not donate a dime to U.S. political candidates or committees during August through the political action committee of its American subsidiaries, new federal records show.

This donation-free month represents a dramatic shift in strategy for the normally aggressive News America/Fox PAC, which this year alone has contributed $133,500 to dozens of federal-level candidates and committees.

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And it’s not for lack of cash: The News America/Fox PAC reported nearly $102,000 cash on hand through August, including nearly $18,000 it received from primarily high-level company employees who together in August made 217 separate contributions to the PAC.

Jack Horner, News Corp.’s vice president for corporate affairs and communications, had no comment on the PAC filing.

Although the News America/Fox PAC did not contribute, the National Republican Congressional Committee did receive a $10,000 personal donation from News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch on Aug. 10, according to federal documents filed today.

The PAC’s new campaign finance filing report also offered no indication that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which has long sponsored a “Fact Check Fox” campaign highly critical of Fox News Channel, has returned a $15,000 contribution it received in late June from the News America/Fox PAC.

The DCCC, which has not yet released its August campaign finance numbers, may have pocketed, donated or otherwise divested of this money. But to date, the DCCC won’t say, refusing to answer numerous phone and email inquiries by POLITICO.

News Corp. continues to reel from revelations this summer that employees allegedly hacked into the phones of numerous people, including British royalty and a kidnapped child. Top officials have resigned, the company shuttered its News of the World tabloid and News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch this summer testified before the British Parliament regarding the scandal, saying the experience was “the most humble day of my life.”